100th post giveaway and gingerbread waffles...

Stuffed to the max with delicious waffles, tea and fresh fruit. But that's not even the news worth delving into here darlings. Its my 100th post! Can you believe it? So excited! This blog is an infant, maybe even still a fetus...sprawling about since January and entering the homes of a few who I hope to become best foodie friends with. And I know reaching this far is more my own personal achievement, but who says you can't celebrate milestones by sharing? Not me, that's who! So let's get this giveaway party started shall we!

Oh yes, the goods! You want to know about the goodies in store for the lucky guy or gal right? Well, you know I am doing you all proud and have a little of everything. As this has been the summer of learning, adventure and travel (whether through daydream or by a plane) I am keeping the spirit alive with a care package of three lovely books. They don't make em better than this! Up for grabs are Table Style, Cupcakes and Lunch in Paris. Not too shabby right? A bit of beach reading, party planning and cupcakes galore. Oh yeahhh.

Now this is my first time ever doing a giveaway. I barely even know what the protocol is for such a thing. But I am genius at organizing Secret Santa, so this can't fall that far from the grannysmith tree right? Right. So to enter just follow the simple rules below and hopefully the world won't stop turning and nothing blows up.

How to enter:
(for US and international residents, yay!)

1. Leave a comment about what you like, surprisingly learned or want to see more of on my humble lil blog, with your email address.
(if you have a Blogger account and your email is findable there, that's fine too!)

2. To enter the drawing a second time, become a follower of Becoming Lola in the Blogger follower list at the bottom of my little blog.

Giveaway closes Monday, August 16, 2010.
The winner will be chosen randomly.

Good luck!

Oh and if you are into food and eating, then well, here is what I had for breakfast too. Ya know, but only if you are into that whole foodie thing...really, no pressure. Ha!

Gingerbread Waffles

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, separated
3/4 cup buttermilk (may substitute regular milk if necessary)
1/4 cup molasses
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

for serving (optional)
confectioner’s sugar for dusting
whipped cream and cinnamon sticks to garnish
warm maple syrup

Directions:

Preheat waffle iron.

In a large bowl of a stand mixer, combine the first seven ingredients (flour through ground cloves); blend thoroughly. In another stand mixer bowl, mix brown sugar and egg yolk until fluffy; add buttermilk, molasses and butter. Switch bowls and stir wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined—do not over mix.

In a small bowl, beat the egg white and cream of tartar using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into the existing batter.

Quickly (and evenly) spoon batter onto a preheated waffle iron. Bake according to manufacturer’s directions, until light golden brown. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar if desired, and/or garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon sticks. Serve with warm maple syrup, strawberry yogurt and tea.

ps- here is a snapshot of my granny digging into the breakfast i presented her at...drum roll...10am! yup folks, you heard right. even on vacation i managed to get my privileged butt out of bed for the first time ever (before noon) to surprise granny with gingerbread goodness before she headed out to work. yay!